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You will see a lot of "unwritten rules" that officers follow. Ie they don't wear marksmanship badges on thier uniforms or have facial hair, even though AR 670-1 allows for both for officers.

Yea, That's passed down from the old guys... No facial hair at all, even though mustaches are allowed usually you'll see an officer get a good verbal couseling if he's got one. And we are told not to wear marksmanship badges because as officers we are "supposed to be experts in any weapon our platoon utilizes"........... riiiiigggggghhhhhtttttt

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Yea, That's passed down from the old guys... No facial hair at all, even though mustaches are allowed usually you'll see an officer get a good verbal couseling if he's got one. And we are told not to wear marksmanship badges because as officers we are "supposed to be experts in any weapon our platoon utilizes"........... riiiiigggggghhhhhtttttt

I know that's how it's done, but I think it's bogus. The whole argument that everyone should just assume you are an expert is so fake and all the enlisted can see right through that. Well, we should assume officers are brave too. Should we all get Medals of Honor so that the enlisted will respect us? To me, it has the opposite of the intended effect. It's more like, "what is he hiding? Why is he ashamed of his badge?" Wear what you've earned I say. If you are embarrassed not to have an expert on your chest than I guess you should shoot better. I'm not going to be the sore thumb and wear mine, but I think the whole tradition is a sham to hide incompetencies, even if they are trivial.

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It's more like, "what is he hiding? Why is he ashamed of his badge?" Wear what you've earned I say. If you are embarrassed not to have an expert on your chest than I guess you should shoot better. I'm not going to be the sore thumb and wear mine, but I think the whole tradition is a sham to hide incompetencies, even if they are trivial.

If the Army wanted to make a move to less bling on its uniform, I'd cast a Heck-Yes vote in a nanosecond. It's really getting out of control.

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I know that's how it's done, but I think it's bogus. The whole argument that everyone should just assume you are an expert is so fake and all the enlisted can see right through that. Well, we should assume officers are brave too. Should we all get Medals of Honor so that the enlisted will respect us? To me, it has the opposite of the intended effect. It's more like, "what is he hiding? Why is he ashamed of his badge?" Wear what you've earned I say. If you are embarrassed not to have an expert on your chest than I guess you should shoot better. I'm not going to be the sore thumb and wear mine, but I think the whole tradition is a sham to hide incompetencies, even if they are trivial.

I agree somewhat, but also disagree. I always hover between sharpshooter and marksman depending on what range I shoot on(Ft. Dix ranges). But as a soldier, would you rather see your officer wearing a marksman badge or none at all? lol It's not about being embarrassed, it's about making your soldiers confident in your abilities. But at the same time I think it's up to the officer to get themselves better if they are lacking.

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Let me preface this by saying that I realize we are just talking about the range and I'm not actually that worked up about it, but if I'm gonna take a position, here it is...

lol It's not about being embarrassed, it's about making your soldiers confident in your abilities.

Even if the substance behind that confidence is hollow? That's what I'm saying. I think most enlisted are on to this, and rather than be confident in your officers abilities, I think they assume that they are all weak instead of they all rock. Otherwise why would they conceal it?

On the other hand, not all ranges are created equal; and some shoot with optics, some use sights, some use M4's, some use M-16's, so it is all really apples and oranges anyway... much like the rest of the awards system.